Expansible trailer



8- 1950 J. VAN TASSEL 2,519,517

Filed Nov. 27. 1948 E EXPANSIBLE TRAILER s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ymaed l mjadde 120M 6 Aug. 22, 1950 J. VAN TASSEL 2,519,517

EXPANSIBLE TRAILER Filed Nov. 2'7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY W

J. VAN TASSEL 2,519,517

PANSIBLE TRAILER Aug. 22, 1950 File d Nov.k2'7. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

famed VZMYMMZ Patented Aug. 22, 1950 'EXPANSIBLE TRAILER James Van Tassel, Santa Ana, 'Ca'lif.,=.assig'-nor to Alert Development Corporation, .Santa Ana, Calif .a corporation of California Application'November 27, 194$,Se1ialNo. 623-85 This invention relates to -iexpansible vehicles,

and more particularly relates to vehicles of the house or camp trailer type ?in the-iconstruction of which it :is :necessary to -.comply with regulatory requirements governing :size: and esaietyif actors "on the highways and also with local'park and camp ordinances, and 'yet idesirable to :o-btain all "p0- tential-livfing space and-comfort.

'Other iactorstnot doundsin ordinances and; re ulations apply to obtaining :safety and also to obtaining -comiort, and too often in "the design of trailers too little aconsideration is given to these factors, :among which may be :mentioned the proper disposition :of "the center of gravity of the vehicle to eliminatesway. It is noticeable that in 'the .great :majority of :designs for expansible trailers, the floor of "the vehicle is placed at a :level above theihighest point attainalzile by the wheels, with allowance FfDl .relative movement of body and wheels shyx spring .action. iSuch a floor height naturally tends :to :produce instability on the road, and :is "inconvenient in camp. --In the relatively iew designs3inwvhihthe floor is lowered to correspondwithmodern :a'utomotive design, the wheel housings necessary to permit lateral expansion of a trailer 'occupy'an inordinately large portion of :tlre available floor space and greatly .IBdllGe .the :potential "convenience of the trailer.

Then again the ;means used to move and to guide the expansibl'e'portions of a trailer in and out :of their expanded position, and .to support them :in that position, have tended to be unwieldy and :cumbersome. Elearly an expansible trailer :can, under traffimregulations, :be expanded only when oil the highways. The mechanism necessary "for altering #tlie'ltrailerfrom compacted to expanded form, and for returning it to compacted form, :may :and should be designed lfor use only when the trailer is at :aroamp site, and should not be required to sustain the wear incident :to :attemptingtto hold separate sections "of the trailer rigidly :during road use.

.Another feature o'f past design of exp'ansible trailers has been a tendency to complicate construction 'andto waste 'available space :in order to achieve a totally unnecessary symmetry and hailancein'the expanded condition. A trailer which is to be expanded only at a camp site and "then with adequate suppoi tgdoes not have to be expanded symmetrically. Simplified un ilateral expans'ion not only can -=l-iminate duplication of moving parts -out can afford numerous opportun'ities for advantageous construction and arrangement will be herinaiter pointed out.

7 Claims. (Cl. 296-3-23) 2 it 'is,.accordingly, ansobject oi this inventionito provide an -:.expansihle trailer of simple, inexpensive, and utilitarian"construction.

LtLis-a iurt'herio'bject vof this invention tozprovide a trailernavinga*lowccenter:oi'gravityxwhen in transit, without sacrifice of interior accommodations in orderitozachieve a low floor :level.

.iA nother zoioject of the invention is to provide an texpansible etrailer which "may be quickly and easily converted to either its expanded or oompasted iiorm .and :h-aving relatively few moving parts-subject .tontoa'dishocks.

Yet another object of the invention is 1120 iplioe vide tan expansible trailer having .a large ".Wall

2 area and fioor area :available "for built-tin and permanently stationed iiurniture and xfi-xtures in both :its expanded :and icompacted iorins.

'With these :objects in =view, and others which will become apparent as the edBSCfiPtiOD. lof embodiment of the invention proceeds, the invention may heasuitably embodied :as illustrated by way :of (example the accompanying drawings, in which:

.F-Jrg. 1 is 'a perspective view of :an extensible trailer constructed 2011 the principles :of :the invention, the trailer being shown tiniits extended fonn;

Fig. l2'.is a 'iragmenta-ry perspective view or the rearward :end :of the trailer, showin the "trailer compacted;

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary perspective View or the forward send of the trailer, showing the trailer compacted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the trailerchassis, showim; also the supporting :me'chanism for the extensible-section of "the trailer as it would be installed preparatory to extending the extensible section and the moving i mec'hanism'in its relati'on to'the chassis.

-*Fig. 5 :is a horizontal sectional view taken on the linefiao'f Fig. l withthe direction-of view-as indicated showing a typical lfloor plan oi 'the trailer "inextended position Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective-view of one of the supports for the extensible section of the trailer, shown in Fig. 4:, showing also the floor construction of the main section of the trailer; "Figf-V is another fragmentary perspective view similar to*Fi-g. '6, showing the support for the extensible sectionof the trailer separated 'fromthe chassis of 'the' 'ma 'in section; 7

Fig. Sis a vertical sectional View of the trailer roof in extended position, taken on the line "8'=8 oi -Fig. l; I

*FigrQ is "a verticalsectional View of the trailer 3 roof in compacted form, taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View of the floor of the expansible section of the trailer, taken on the line lfi-N] of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 5, showing the arrangement of wheel housings when the trailer is extended;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the same plane of section as Fig. 11, but showing the trailer compacted;

' Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line |3|3 of Fig. 11, showing a hinged strip of flooring of the extensible section of the trailer;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a fragment of the extensible section of the trailer, showing the hinged floor strip in its relation to a wheel housing; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view similar to Figs. 11 and 12, showing a modified form of wheel housing, the extensible section of the trailer being illustrated as in a position between extended and compacted positions.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, my improved expansible trailer has, as an underbody, a chassis 2| which as best shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, comprises longitudinal frame mem bers 22 and end frame members 23 which are supported on wheels 24- and in turn support transverse floor joists 25. Paired with sundry of the floor joists 25 are shorter fioor joists 26, also supported by the frame members 22, and

so arranged and spaced that the joists of each pair define narrow channels 21, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. A suitable draw-bar 28 is secured to the forward end of the chassis 2 I.

A main house section 30 is mounted upon the chassis 2|, and is hereinafter referred to as the stationary section, inasmuch as it is secured to the chassis so as to be stationary with respect to the chassis. The house section 30 has a floor 3|, forward and rearward end walls 32 and 33, a roof 34, and one side wall 35, the other side of, the section being left open. Suitable windows or doors 36 may be provided in the end walls 32 and 33 and the side wall 35, as may be required, end windows lbeing preferable to provide a rearward view through the trailer from a towing automobile and a view from the trailer towards the automobile.

The frame members 22 and 23 and the joists 25 are disposed at such a height relatively to the wheels 24, that the floor 3|, which is secured to the joists 25, is disposed below the upper range of movement of the wheels 24, due allowance being made for the action of vehicular. springs 31. As it is desirable not only to obtain the lowest center of gravity compatible with adequate road clearance but also to obtain the greatest width of floor allowable by highway reglllations, the floor 3| extends outwardly laterally beyond the wheels 24 and is provided with-wheel housings 38 and 39 which enclose the upper portions of the wheels in the conventional manner but are preferably of rectangular shape, rather than of the usual curvilinear form.

Fitting telescopically within the stationary section 30 is a movable house section 40 which is arranged to be moved laterally toan expanded position when the trailer is set up in camp as a house, or to be telescoped in a compacted position within the stationary section when the trailer is in use on the highways as a vehicle. Like the stationary section, the movable section 4% comprises a fioor 4|, a front wall 42 and rear wall 43, a roof 44, and a side wall 45, with the difference that the side wall 45 is on the opposite side of the trailer from the side Wall 35 of the stationary section, corresponding to and closing the open side of the stationary structure when the two sections are compacted. Doors and windows lB may be suitably placed in the walls 42, 43, and 45, with preference given to placement of end windows in the walls 32 and &3 so that they will be aligned with the end windows in the walls 32 and 33 when the sections are compacted.

To accommodate the Wheel housings 38 and 39, openings 37 and 43 are provided in the lateral margins of the floor 4|, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the wheel housings may extend upwardly above the floor 4| into the interior of the movable section 40. However, the openings ll and 48 are enclosed by cover structures 49 and 55, so that the wheel housings are concealed from above in the compacted position of the trailer and in part concealed in the expanded position of the trailer. The cover structures 69 and 59 are each, preferably, rectangular structures having end walls 5|, a side wall 52 and an upper closure 53. The structure 49 which is adjacent the open side of the movable section 49 is open at its side aligned above the margin of the floor 4|corresponding to the open side of the section 49. The cover structure 59, adjacent to the side wall 45 of the movable section All is closed at its outer side by the side wall 45.

The upper closures 53 of the cover structures 49 and 59 are preferably furniture fixtures, such as tables, chests, clothes lockers, or refrigerator boxes, being illustrated in the accompanying drawings as simple boxes indicative of functional character in addition to their function of enclosing the wheel housings 38 and 39. The preferred rectangular construction of the cover structures 49 and 59 enhances their adaptability as :bases for furniture fixtures and the corresponding preferred rectangular construction of the wheel housings is not only more economical. than curvilinear construction, but simplifies the use of gaskets or Weatherstripping as indicated at 55 in Figs. 11 and 12, to effect a seal between the cover structures and the wheel housings.

To permit the movable section 49 to be moved laterally relatively to the stationary section 39, the side walls 52 of the cover structures 49 and 59 are provided with gates 51, which may be hung on hinges 58 so that they may be raised to permit the wheel housing 39 adjacent the open side of the section 39 to enter the cover structure and to emerge therefrom. It will be seen by comparison of Figs. 11 and 12, that the wheel housing 38, adjacent the closed side of the section 30, will be uncovered in the expanded position of the trailer and will enter the cover structure 49 through the open side thereof in the compacted position of the trailer. To further permit the wheel housing 39 to move from one to the other of the cover structures 49 and 50 (it will be understood that actually the cover structures are moved as part of the section 69) that portion 69 of the floor 4| disposed between the cover structures 49 and 59 is arranged to be movable relative to the remainder of the floor 4|, the gates 51 and the floor portion 60 thus opening a path for the wheel housing 39 between the two cover structures and cooperating when closed z tozseal =the floor (openin s :43 and :48 rirem the. ziriteriqr =or ethe .=stationar.v :section and :to iconcleal ethe awheel ihousings lirom :said interior. llhe floor :portion '64) :may esluitably movable by :a lifting ring :61 and :hizn es 62, ms .zshovvn tin Figs. 13 and "1:4.

zsuitable mechanism maytbe provided "to :cause the movable section ito zmove telescopically with respect to the stationary lseotion 0, .such as :a screw shaft 2,64, operated ebyla detachable crank lhandle 65. 'lllhe shaft r54 (seesfi'ig. .4) -may be threaded :in a tblOCkrOr nut 25.6 sseeuredrto ;a frame member :22 ;of the :chassis :2l ia'ndrimay -:be provided with collars @821 which engage opposite sides of .a ring 'ibeari-ng 5.6.8 athe .side .of :the movable-sectional). Thelshaft 6! .willi thus move longitudinally ,with :lateral movement .of the ;sec- .tion 41), @causing .such :lateral movement :by zrotation :in the nut iBB. "It is :not, however, desirable :to ihave "the shaft .611 serve as rallilock to :holdzthe movable :section :40 gin compacted -.positi,on :during travel on :thethighways, bothtbecause :of zrelative insecurity and :because Of resultant wear on the :threads of itheshaft and of'rtheznutzfifi. "Therefore :I prefer :to provide bolt lholes 69 in :the :side wall :45, through which bolts '10 may the inserted into suitable threaded i-holes iin -the rchassis 22], when the trailer is compacted as shown in .Figs 2 and13.

- "To :facilitate moving the :movable section :40, suitable anti friction devices .may be :provided to :cause the :floor 4:1 :to slide ,or :roll .on :the .rfloor 32!. fPreterably,:rollers 1:2,as :shown rinm'ig. 10, are mounted :in the -floor $4.1 so as ,to protrude 't'herebelow, landlstrips I3, rwl'lich-mayvbe .of hard plastiomaterialorof metal are embedded in'the upper lsurf ace of ithe :floor 53%| so .as to be flush :therewith :and ,form .part thereof. -'il:he =rollers 12 andnstrips '13 :are disposed above lthe sohannels 2 1 lin the chassis 2. :and preferably torwardly and aft .of the :hinged :iloor portion T :so that there is no :tendency to :push'ithat sportion upwardly.

I lb' tension rails T5 are provided iforsupporting :the movable section no in its expanded position. The -=rails i5 are1'cletachable and :may lse :carried within the trailer :when the trailer is on the highway, as they then have no lunction and .wbuldonlybe subject to wear and strain if made permanent :parts :of the trailer. Each of the rails -15 :has' :one :end 7H3 shaped to fit snugly Within ithe channels r21 formed by the paired floor joists 25-and1'26 and to :be supportedby the uter frame memberr22 and a raised bearing plate 1 extending :on its -upper side train a point adjacent its end'IB towards its otherend'and presenting a shoulder 18 which :may abut against *the 'fio'or 3|. The bearing plates 11 thus become extensionsiof thel-strips :Iiiyupon which the rollers 12 may roll. To support the outer ends of the rails 15, bolts 19 are threadedin therails and in the hearingiplatesl-l. The lower ends of ithe bolts 19 are freely rotatable in thltllfit rollers v8.0 7011 support plates 8| and the upper ends 82 of the bolts are suitably shaped to receive a crank or wrench. The bolts 19 and support plates will ldlnarilywbe separated from :the rails 2'I5nand towed conveniently. in the trailer when the trailer ison the highway, to be set up when the trailer arrives at a camping ground. The thrust collars permit the support plates 81 to be placed on sloping ground.

"z-Ihe ends 56 of thezra ils'fllfirmaybe temporarily secured in the channels 21 by pins 83 passing through holes 84 in the joists 25 and 2B and in the rails 15.

:=iunctures :Qf the roofs :34 and a l! and ref the .end walls :32 and 13 with zthe .end "M9115 1:42 anddlli :may the lweatherproofied by suitable imojldings and Weatherstripping. :I-nlFigs. :18 sand-39 1 have .ehown ssimple :and efiective means ifor weatherproofing the roof junctures :in ithe texpa-nded and compacted ;.position :of time etrailer. Amornicedrip tltfi'zislsecured to the :edgeof :the stationary 3100f 3.4 above ithe :o-pen aside lof ithe stationary :section 30 .and is provided with Weatherstripping 81, tsuitably .of :rubber, run :its inner and;outer= sides. Weatherboardsdlfiandvllil are .=securecl to ithe margins of the :roof M- arespectively aboveithe open'and closedrsideslofithe movable :section :41] and are :provided with Weatherstripping 96 on their -opposed sides. :In either position :of ithe trailer, :a seal :is 'formeii between one of the weatherstri-ps 81 and one of the weatherstrips 99. Similarsealingmeansmay be 'used to seal the end walls :of ithe trailer.

Wheel housing and a cover "structure for the closed side -of +the stationary section 30, and the open side of the movable section 45. A wheel housing M ma-y be provided which is-surmouriteii by a suitable furniture fixture 95. As the fixture would interfere with an upper closure 53, *the cover "structure 96 is formed without such an upper closure, having only end walls-'91 and a gate '98 astenedithereto.

It will ?be seen that I have invented an 38X- pansible trailer havinggalow floor level and consequent "stability without sacrificing space required tor furniture. The entirefioor space "01 the movable section 40, With'the-exception ofthe movable floor portion 60 is available :for "fixed furniture, indicated in "Fig. '5 by [00, and even the space above the floorportion 6% maybe used by elevating'the fixtures to the'heig'ht'necessary to permit the jfloor portion to be moved and "the wheelhousing '39 to traverse 'theypa'thso provided. Thus lthe vmovable section All maybe dividedby fixtures as by ,a partition. In additiontoihaving mfort and convenience both on the ,ro and in .camp, the trailer is sturclily constructed, wellsurzp rted, and has ;few parts subj to damage either by use on thefhighways or during the exanding and comnactingoperations a .a camp.

.Numerous modifications of arrangement and construction voi parts of my exnansible trailer Will occur to those skilled in the .art, without departure .irom the spirit and cope efinyin- .ven'tion, whichlis to be understood .asibeingse forthin theapnended claimaior whichjtheabove description and the illustrati ns se v a an examplel lclaim: 1. In a vehicle of .the character described: .a chassis having wheels; .a stationary house section mounted on .said chassis; .a house ,seetion movable laterally re pect to said stationary sec? .tion toan expanded position and toaeomnaeted position; each of said sections having one side wall and ,a ,floor; rectangular .wheel housings adlatent the lateral margins of the floor of .sa stationary section, extending npwardly there: from; he lfloor of said movablesectionbeing disposed above the .fioor of said stationary .section and having lateral recesses ad pted t fit around said wheel housings, a d :having amo-vahle por- ,tion aligned between said. recessed; and ,rectam g far cover structures 'forsa'id recesses xtending upwardly of said wheel housings and having movable Wall means in alignment with said movable floor portion; said movable wall means and said movable floor portion being arranged to permit relative lateral movement of said house sections when in one position, and to form a closed fioor in another position.

2. In a vehicle of the character described: a chassis having wheels; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis; a house section movable telescopically with respect to and within said stationary section to a laterally expanded position; each of said sections having one side Wall and having a floor disposed below the upper range of movement of said wheels; wheel housings adjacent the lateral margins of the floor of said stationary section, extending upwardly therefrom; the floor of said movable section having a portion aligned with said wheel housings adapted to be raised to permit lateral movement of said floor with respect to said Wheel housings, and having recesses at the lateral ends of said portion adapted to fit around said wheel housings; and fixtures surmounting said recesses and adapted to serve as covers for said wheel housings and having movable wall portions at the level of said wheel housings to permit movement of said fixtures in and out of covering positions.

3. In a vehicle of the character described: a chassis having wheels; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis; a house section fitting telescopically within said stationary section and movable laterally with respect thereto; both of said sections having floors disposed below the upper range of movement of said wheels; wheel housings adjacent the lateral margins of the fioor of said stationary section, extending upwardly therefrom above the floor of said movable section; and hinged means, including a portion of the door of said movable section, for forming a bottom closure for said movable section concealing said wheel housings when said sections are in compacted position and adapted for movement from the path of said wheel housings when said movable section is moved laterally.

4. In a vehicle of the character described: a chassis having wheels; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis; a house section fitting telescopically within said stationary section and movable laterally with respect thereto; both of said sections having floors disposed below the upper range of movement of said wheels; wheel housings adjacent the lateral margins of the floor of said stationary section,'extending upwardly therefrom above the floor of said movable section; furniture fixtures disposed at the lateral margins of said movable section in alignment with said Wheel housings; and hinged means, including a portion of the floor of said movable section, and the lower portions of said furniture fixtures, forforming a bottom closure for said movable section concealing said wheel housings when said sections are in compacted position and adapted for movement from the path of said wheel housings when said movable section is moved laterally.

5. In a, vehicle of the character described: a chassis having wheels; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis; a house section movable telescopically within said stationary section to an extended position and to a compacted position, said wheels extending above the floors of both of said sections; means elevated above the floor of said movable section for excluding said wheels from the interior of said movable section when said movable section is in either of said positions; that portion of said floor of said movable section normally aligned between said wheels being adapted for movement to a, position opening a path between said elevated means for relative movement of said wheels; and portions of said elevated means being movable to permit entry of said wheels to said path.

6. In a vehicle of the character described: a chassis having two transversely aligned wheels; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis; housings for each of said wheels extending above the floor of said stationary section; a house section slidable on the floor of said stationary section in lateral directions to extended and compacted positions; a fixture secured to said stationary section and surmounting one of said wheel housings; a second fixture secured to said movable section 50 as to surmount the other of said wheel housings when said movable section is in compacted position; a gate in the floor of said movable section openable to form a transversely extending path for said other wheel housing; and gate means secured to said movable section normally closed to conceal said wheel housings beneath said fixtures and openable to permit entry of said other wheel housing to said path.

7. In a vehicle of the character described: a wheeled chassis including side frame members and transverse floor joists supported by said frame members and arranged in spaced pairs defining channels between the joists of each pair; a stationary house section mounted on said chassis and having one open side and a floor supported by said joists; a house section movable telescopically within said stationary section and having a floor, and a side wall corresponding to the open side of said stationary section and extending downwardly outwardly of said floor joists and of said frame members and having openings] aligned with the outer ends of said channels; anti-friction means on the lower surface of the floor of said movable section arranged to make contact with the fioor of said stationary section in vertical relation to said channels; rails, each having one of its ends adapted to be inserted through said openings so as to be detachably held in said channels and to be supported by said frame members and to be held aligned with said channels by said side wall; track surfaces on said rails elevated above said one end of said rails so as to be positionable in horizontal alignment with the upper surface of the floor of said stationary section to receive and support said antifriction means; and jack means for supporting the other ends of said rails.

JAMES VAN TASSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,148,270 Koets v Feb. 21, 1939 2,177,394 Pierce Oct. 24, 1939 2,225,319 Rollo Dec. 17, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 493,964 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1938 

